Since August 2021, the coordination office Deutschkurs-Kompass has been supporting the structures for initial language orientation at the municipal level in Schleswig-Holstein with the aim of strengthening a comprehensive, needs-based range of German courses for refugees and immigrants.

Our tasks include

• needs-based location development of the German course offerings EOK.SH (initial orientation courses) and STAFF.SH courses (starter package for refugees),
• identifying specific course needs, e.g., for members of vulnerable groups (people with disabilities, pregnant women, women with small children, caregivers, etc.)
• informing refugees and immigrants about various German language courses, opportunities for participation, self-study options, etc.
• implementing procedures to strengthen integration course structures.

The Integrationskurs is the primary course for refugees and immigrants to acquire language skills up to B1 level. It also imparts knowledge about values and life in Germany.

Refugees and immigrants can participate in EOK.SH and STAFF.SH if participation in an Integrationskurs is not (yet) possible for legal, factual, or individual reasons. The EOK.SH and STAFF.SH courses are German courses for initial language orientation.

As a coordination center, we provide regional support in matching course demand and course supply. To do this, we use information obtained from our network in the districts and independent cities and from exchanges with various actors in the field of integration.

If you have any questions or need advice or support, we are the point of contact for all institutions and stakeholders involved in accompanying and supporting refugees and immigrants locally and in placing interested parties in learning programs.

The German course compass includes the “Deutschkursfinder.” This provides an overview of the EOK.SH and STAFF.SH German courses available locally as well as online courses. Interested parties can register directly for German courses. If there is no suitable offer, they can use the “I am looking for a German course” registration form. The Deutschkursfinder also provides information on other German courses and access options, such as integration courses and vocational language courses, language training, German courses with childcare, exams, self-study options, and more.

The Deutschkurs-Kompass project is funded by the Ministry of Social Affairs, Youth, Family, Seniors, Integration, and Equality and implemented by the Landesverband der Volkshochschulen Schleswig-Holsteins e.V.